Grill On New York St Reviewed – Pinstripe Brigade

Here we are again, on our Living Ventures venture, and just down the road from our good friends Alchemist NYS. We joined the mature men dressed in pinstriped suits (Pinstripe Brigade) on New York Street to break some bread.

“…post work business types getting fed. Dark wood, uniform table arrangements with low hanging lamps.”

Grill On New York St is part of the Blackhouse chain, along with Grill On The Alley, owned by Living Ventures (always stunning). Some might say ‘sister’ restaurant. GOTA is a little more casual dining with lighter wood décor and a funkier clientele. This New York St site appears to have a few post work business types getting fed. Dark wood, uniform table arrangements with low hanging lamps. You would be forgiven for thinking for a split second that you were 50 floors up in a luxury hotel in the middle of the Big Apple.

We waited at the bar for our table and ordered a drink. The table was declared ready during the preparation of the gin & slim-line tonic and Gentleman Jack & Coke. Not an issue, they said, they’ll bring it over. Being slightly disappointed by the small bar area, we decided to oblige, straight to our table. We didn’t see those drinks for a good 20 minutes and they even forgot the order. No danger, the bottle of still water I downed was like a rush of oxygen to the brain. I had just finished training with Bob Shannon (Ricky Hatton’s late trainer) and was completely parched.

“…we slouched into the soft leather seats, we felt right at home, and compared ourselves to Ryan Gosling and Jude Law…”

When the drinks did finally come, they were worth the wait. Together with the olives and bread (£3.00) we ordered, I always find the gin with a slice of lemon goes really well with olives. Maybe the acidic values complimenting one another. As we slouched into the soft leather seats, we felt right at home, and compared ourselves to Ryan Gosling and Jude Law (we couldn’t have been any further from the truth, but we still felt good) as we sipped on our drinkies and did a bit of people watching.

Food! Well, there were no were no rock oysters or mussels which we’re getting used to this season. I think TNQ Restaurant have all the mussel rations for the city. For starters we went for the easy option. A signature Blackhouse sharing plate (£14.75). It comes with fish cakes, salt & pepper chicken skewer, calamari and duck spring roll. A beautiful collection from the starters options that comes with three different tasty dips. We like dippy, messy finger foods.

“You can’t have white wine with steak, not in my lifetime son!”

We were being looked after by the efficient Scottish fellow by the name of Alex. He was very passionate about the steak on the grill. So, now then, for mains we went for our favourite cut of grilled steak. Solid, honest and simple – proper food. Dubai liked the look of the Best Of British menu. It’s a menu that changes monthly (both Blackhouse Grills). This month was steak from the Summerhill Farm of Scaleby in Carlisle and he chose the 8oz/225g fillet (£37.50). Very rich and intense in flavour with a muscly texture. It’s not ‘just’ a fillet. He accompanied this fine cut of beef with corn on the cob with chili butter. I’m slathering just typing.

Me, the ginger ninja, sliced into the 200g house fillet (£22.50), cooked rare as I like together with the surf and turf option (an additional £5) for skewered garlic king prawns. A nice all-rounder, good flavour that melts in your mouth. Beautiful, but nothing compared to the chateaubriand (£52.50). I had my bloody cut with béarnaise sauce and asparagus. We both opted for the crushed new potato & chive when asked, instead of chips.

Complimented and washed down with a red wine. You can’t have white wine with steak, not in my lifetime son! I chose a bottle of the Tarquino Shiraz/Malbec, which is a juicy & ripe, good value Argentinian wine (750ml £22.50). It did the steak a host of favours.

Did we have room for desserts? Of course we did, like time; you make room. Dubai pointed at the Red Velvet Cake – it’s a sweet that’s a big fad in America. It’s made with buttermilk and it’s beetroot essence (or red food colouring) that makes it red. It tasted like very posh Birthday cake to be honest. Very soft and sweet… and red.

I had icecream. I love ice-cream but considering I went along to review the fabulous Fresco Freddo’s Gelateria on Oxford Street last week, it wasn’t a smooth move. It did come in three flavours: vanilla, chocolate and pistachio all sprinkled in almonds. I also, to warm my cockles after the iced sweet, ordered a coffee. A liqueur coffee – a Swiss Express Chocolate which is a chocolate cappuccino with Martell VS Cognac. I can never decide between an after dinner brandy, whiskey or coffee; so this was a perfect contrary.

Grill On New York St is a comfortable, contemporary steak house, fit for a lady & gentleman.

We said our goodbyes to Alex, the proper Living Ventures employee who blatantly follows the manual. He’s only here for a few more weeks before he moves over to All Star Lanes – a new, cool bowling alley with a bar & restaurant that’s opening in the Great Northern Warehouse on 1st March. He accordingly has to prepare a bar of over 170 whiskeys to cater for the 200+ eaters and drinkers.

On the I love-o-meter

We would sing in the rain in our pinstripe suit with Grill On NYS and her sister.

LOCATION

New York Street, 
Manchester
 M1 4BD


CONTACT

0161 238 9790

blackhouse.uk.com/restaurant/manchester-new-york-street